eed retry Electrical test equipment for use on low voltage electrical systems Guidance Note GS38 (Fourth edition) S38 (Fourth edition) Published 2015 HSE Books ‘This general series guidance note is aimed at people (ncluding electricians, electrical contractors, test supervisors, technicians, managers, tradespeople and/ oF appliance retailers/repairars etc) who use electrical test equipment on low voltage electrical systems and equipment. This fourth edition is updated to include current test equipment; the guidance has not fundamentally changed trom the previous version, The Electicity at Work Regulations 1989 require those in control ofall or part of an electrical system to ensure itis safe to use and maintained in a safe condition ‘The Regulations permit few circumstances where it is acceptable for ive working activites to be carried out on electrical equipment or systems, this includes ‘lectrcal testing and fautt finding, Wherever possible, al work on electrical systems should be carried out with the system dead. This includes electrical testing where dead tests are often as effective as live measurements. This document provides advice and guidance on how to achieve this. Contents Introduction 2 The law 2 What is the risk of jury? 3 What causes accidents? 3 Test equipment 4 Safe systems of work 7 Further reading 9 Further information 9 Page 1 ofHealth and Safety Executive Introduction 1 This guidance is aimed at people who use electrical test equipment on low voltage electrical systems and equipment. These may include electricians, electrical contractors, test supervisors, technicians, managers or appliance reparers (ncluaing trades where electrical testing isnot the primary activity, eg gas ‘engineers, alarm companies etc). 2 The guidance provides advice on the selection and use of: test probes; leads; lamps; voltage detecting devices; and lm measuring equipment; for circuits with rated voltages not exceeding 1000 V ac, The law 3 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 reauire those in control of part or all of an dlectrical system to ensure that itis safe to use and that itis maintained in a safe cconeiiion. The following are the main requirements when canying out electrical testing, IH Equipment should be, so far as is reasonably practicable: = constructed: = maintained; and — used in a way to prevent danger. I There must be no live working” unless: ~ itis unreasonable to work dead; and ~ itis reasonable to work live; and — suitable precautions are taken to prevent injury. I Work must be cartied out in a safe manner. Things to consider when developing safe working practices include: = control of risks while working; = control of test areas; ~ se of suitable tools and clothing: ~ use of suitable insulated barniers; ~ adequate information; ~ adequate accompaniment; ~ adequate space, access and lighting: ~ precautions to prevent people not canying out the testing coming into contact with exposed live parts, People at work must: ~ prevent danger and injury; = be competent for the work they are carrying out, by having adequate training, skil and experience to avoid injury to themselves and others; — have adequate supervision when appropriate. “Testing of fault finding on ive systems or equioment is Ive working, {ecttca test equipment for use on low voltage elerrial systems Page 2 ofHealth and Safety Executive What is the risk of injury? 4 Unsuitable electrical test equipment can cause serious burns or electric shock. ‘Arcing or “flashover’ caused by the use of inadequate test probes can result in burn injuries. Contact with inadequate test probes can result in shock injuries. Arcs, once ‘drawn, fonise the surrounding alr and cause further ‘flashovers’ to occur. These can rapidly engulf the working area, before anybody can escape. 5 Systems where voltages are below 50 V ac oF 120 V de (extra low voltage) reduce the risk of electric shock to a low level. If system energy levels are low, arcing is unlikely to cause burns, It is recommended that, where reasonably practicable, tests are carried out at reduced voltages to help reduce the risk of injury. Equipment should be constructed with suitably insulated and shrouded terminals to minimise the risk of short-circutts, which could cause danger. For example, short-circuiting battery terminals can cause high amounts of energy to be released, 6 _ In addition to the risk of electric shock and burns, there could be other risks to ‘consider. For example, chemical burns (eg from battery acid) or falls from ladders or platforms when testing, What causes accidents? 7 Aways use suitable test probes, leads, lamps, voltage detectors and muitimeters, as unsuitable equipment can cause electrical arcing dus to: I inadequately insulated test probes (typically having an excessive length of bare metal at the contact end) accidentally bridging a live conductor and adjacent earthed metalwork; or I oxcessive current drawn through test probes, leads and measuring instruments. ‘This can happen when a multimeter is set to the wrong function, eg set on a current or resistance range when measuring voltage, Other causes of accidents which have led to electric shack are: inadequate insulation of test leads, probes and connectors; removal of the manufacturer's insulation on test leads and probes (there have been incidents which have been caused by the deiberate removal of such insulation}; exposed live terminations at multimeters and voltage detectors; Ea lead falling off one of the terminals of a multimeter resuiting in either the ‘multimeter terminal or the lead terminal remaining live I incorrect use of test equipment, eg: = a multimeter being used to measure the voltage of conductors which exceeds the maximum working voltage of the multimeter; or = a multimeter being set to the wrong function, eg set on a current range when’ measuring voltage); failing to verity the correct operation of the test equipment (eg failing to use a proprietary proving unit}; I use of inadequately constructed or makeshift test equipment, og a test lamp consisting of a combination of a bayonet lamp holder, bull and two single insulated conductors with bared ends; IE the use of long intertwined leads which were not easily distinguished, resulting in one lead being connected across the equipment and the other short- circuiting the live conductors under test; Elctrical test equipment for use on ow vokage eectical systems Pages of